Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-03-10
THE DEMOCRATS
Make Independent Nominations for
Justices and Regents.
The Platform.


The democratic state convention to nom-
mate two justices of tho supreme court
and two regents of the university met in
the Detroit opera house, Detroit, on the
lst inst, and was called to order by Chair
man Watson.
Col. Shoemaker OF Jackson was chosen
temporary chairman, and JAS. j. Conklin
of Saginaw temporary secretary. Com
mittees on credentials, order OF business,
resolutions and conference were appoint
ed, and the convention took short recess
TO allow them TO arrange matters entrusted
TO them.
When the convention re assembled, re-
port was adopted declaring that the tempo
rary officers be made permanent and that
Fred n. Peck of Kalamazoo be added as
assistant secretary.
j. Logan Chapman, chairman OF the COM
mittee on resolutions, submitted the fol-
lowing which were adopted without dis
senting voice:
The democracy of Michigan in conven-
ton assembled reatlirms the sound demo
cratic principles of the national platform
of 1884, and of the state platform adopted
Mt Grand Rapids in 1876.
|. We renew the pledges of those plat
forms of the determination OF the demo-
crat party TO reform the methods and re-
duce the amount of taxation pledges
which the democratic administration OF
President Cleveland has nobly struggled
10 fulfill against the partisan opposition
of republican senate.
.. We denounce the mercenary pur-
20 e. and the centraliZing tendencies OF
the legislative policies OF the republican
party, which attack the rights OF states,
localities and citizens, and we demand q
return TO strict Interpretation of tunda-
mental law which shall restore and secure
local self-government and leave all men
equal in the competition of business.
.. We charge that the republican party
in the nation and state has become sub.
servient TO monopolies and corporations
and that its deGeneracy is shown by the
corporation law aud the corporation de-
cisions which have emanated from the
legislature and courts under its auspices
in this state, and by the action OF the re
publican senate at Wa hington defeating
all efforts to relieve the pressure Of bust
ness in the federal supreme court which
now makes the pursuit of justice in that
tribunal a hopeless task to all except the
wealthy. who can carry the burden of pro-
longed litigation.
1. We congratulate the democracy OF
Michigan upon the beneiicent reform they
have effected in our supreme court, and
invite the electors OF all parties to unite
with us for the continuance of that re-
form until the last vestige of mcnopolistic
and corporation tendency is purged from
the court.
) We recognize the just demands Of la
Dor for more careful consideration, and
believe that the present restless condition
Cl tue wage workers l. largely due 10 the
vicious tendencies OF republican courts
and legislatures in this state and nation
during the past % years of republican
rule We therefore, demand OF the legis
lature the immediate enactment OF laws
10y which Just claims for wages may be
promptly and cheaply enforced in the
courts, and that the legislature should
enact laws for the protection OF life and
limb OF employees engaged in dangerous
pursuits and that the rule of law which
compels one employe TO take the risk Of
employees shall lie abolished.
g. The democi attic party of Michigan,
which first recognized the claims of our
soldiers TO n place on the supreme bench,
renews its pledge of gratitude and indebt
edness TO those who 80 nobly risked their
lives forth preservation of the Union.
{. Our state university, founded by the
demot ratio party, is the pride Of our state
end the crown of the best educational
system in the world. That the democratic
party. by seventy years of effort, is CONT
lei 10 it growth and prosperity. We
therefore urge our Legislature TO foster it
with lIUerallty, and we pledge the demo.
cratic party of Michigan TO increase its
usefulness aud render 1t more accessible to
all citizens.
At this junction the question Of fusion
with the greenbackers, whose convention
was in session at Lansing, was brought up,
and gave rise to a very animated debate,
as result of which it was declared that the
democrats were perfectly willing to fuse
with tue greenbackers, but were not will
ing to be dictated to by them This being
the sentiment of the democ ats no time
was lost in further parley, but the conven-
tion proceeded 20 nominate iUs candidates,
that for justice for the short term being
first in order
William L. Wells presented the name Of
Levi Il Griffin in the name of the Wayne
county delegation. The name OF Mr..
Griffin was supported ny Judge Chapman
of Wayne, and 10y Kent, Jackson, Washte.
nav, Leuawee. Macomb Saginaw, Cal
houn, Monroe and other counties. The
rules were suspended and Mr. Griffin NOM
mated by reclamation. followed by three
cheers.
Mr.. Griffin was called to tine platform,
and spoke about ten minutes His remarks
were very smooth, graceful and pleasing,
his sentences flowing and bis periods well
rouuded. but be committed himself TO no
policy or proposition.
Ex'Justice .. w. Powers Of Kalamazoo
nominated Judge Josiah l.. Halves OF kal.
emazoo as a candidate for the nomination
for the long term.
c. ID. Little Of East Saginaw presented
the name of Charles II Camp OF that city.
cell OF the counties resulted in 4S3
votes for Charles II Camp, {? for Judge J.
J.. Halves and 80 for o. Brien Atkinson.
Mr. Camps nomination was made unani-
nous.
John j. Enright of Detroit, moved to
nominate BARLEY Breen of the upper pen
insula, for res ent 10y acclammation. The
motion prevailed 10y a large ma iority, aud
MIR Breen was declared nominated.
The names Of Douglass JOY of Mar,hall,
Edwin +. Uhl of Grand Rapids. w. II.
Simpson Of Au Sable, Byron &. Stout of
and Rufus 5. Spragre of Greenville were
presented for the nomination for second
regent. The choice fell upon Rufus ).
tSprague and the nomination was made
unanimous.
After the usual vote OF thanks to every
body the convention adjourned.